Use the following Resources to help in planning your yearly taxes.

Standard Deductions

Married Filing Joint/Surviving Spouse $11,400 
 Single $5,700
 Head of Household $8,350
 Married Filing Separately $5,700
 Additional Aged/Blind – Married $1,100
 Additional Aged/Blind – Unmarried $1,400
 Taxpayer Claimed as Dependent $950

Personal Exemption Phase-Out


The personal exemption amount in 2009 is $3,650. The exemption amount for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of the maximum phase-out amount is $2,433.

Filing StatusPhaseout Begins When AGI ExceedsPhaseout Complete When AGI Exceeds
Married Filing Joint/ Surviving Spouse$250,200$372,700
Single$166,800$289,300
Head of Household $208,500$331,000
Married Filing Separately$125,100$186,350

2009 Social Security Changes


Maximum Taxable Earnings

Social Security Wage Base (OASDI)$106,800
Medicare Portion (HI)No Limit

Social Security Tax Rates

Tax RateEmployee Rate
Employee7.65%*
Self Employed15.30%

*The combined rate for Social Security (OASDI 6.2%) and Medicare (HI 1.45%)

At A Glance: Key Numbers For 2009

Plan Contribution Limits2009
Defined Benefit Limit
$195,000**
Defined Contribution Limit
$49,000***
 Maximum Compensation Limits
 $245,000
Section 401(k) Plan$16,500
Section 403(b) Plan $16,500
Catch Up Provision 401(k) and 403(b)$5,500
 Section 457(b)(2) Limit
 $16,500
 Section 457(b)(2) Catch Up Provision
$5,500
Highly Compensated Employee Definitional Limits $110,000
 SIMPLE IRAs and SIMPLE 401(k) Plans
$11,500
 SIMPLE Plan Catch Up Provision
$2,500
Traditional IRA and Roth IRA $5,000
Traditional IRA and Roth IRA Catch Up $1,000

**For defined benefit plans in 2009, the maximum benefit at age 65 under IRC Sec. 415(b) cannot exceed the lesser of (1) $195,000 or (2) 100% of the participant's average compensation for his high three years of active participation.

***The annual limitation applicable to defined contributions plans for 2009 is the lesser of (1) $49,000, or (2) 100% of the participants annual compensation.

Long Term Care Premiums
Age 40 or less $320
Over 40 but less than equal to 50$600
Greater than 50 but less than or equal to 60$1,190
Greater than 60 but less than or equal to 70 $3,180
Greater than 70 $3,980

Social Security
Social Security Wage Base$106,800
Social Security Tax Rate Employee7.65%
Social Security Tax Rate Self Employed15.30%


Transfer Tax
Annual Exclusion$13,000
Unified Credit Gift Tax $345,800/$1,000,000
Unified Credit Estate Tax $1,455,800/$3,500,000
Generation Skipping Exemption$3,500,000
Highest Estate Tax Bracket 45%

Tax Rate Tables for 2009



Married Filing Joint/Surviving Spouse

If Taxable Income IsThe Tax Is
Not Over $16,70010% of the taxable income
Over $16,700 but not over $67,900 $1,670 plus 15% of excess over $16,700
Over $67,900 but not over $137,050$9,350 plus 25% of the excess over $67,900
Over $137,050 but not over $208,850$26,637.50 plus 28% of the excess over $137,050
Over $208,850 but not over $372,950$46,741.50 plus 33% of the excess over $208,850
Over $372,950$100,894.50 plus 35% of the excess over $372,950

Head of Household

If Taxable Income IsThe Tax Is
Not Over $11,95010% of the taxable income
Over $11,950 but not over $45,500 $1,195 plus 15% of excess over $11,950
Over $45,500 but not over $117,450$6,227.50 plus 25% of the excess over $45,500
Over $117,450 but not over $190,200$24,215 plus 28% of the excess over $117,450
Over $190,200 but not over $372,950$44,585 plus 33% of the excess over $190,200
Over $372,950 $104,892.50 plus 35% of the excess over $372,950

Single

If Taxable Income Is The Tax Is
Not over $8,35010% of the taxable income
Over $8,350 but not over $33,950$835 plus 15% of the excess over $8,350
Over $33,950 but not over $82,250$4,675 plus 25% of the excess over $33,950
Over $82,250 but not over $171,550 $16,750 plus 28% of the excess over $82,250
Over $171,550 but not over $372,950$41,754 plus 33% of the excess over $171,550
Over $372,950$108,216 plus 35% of the excess over $372,950

Married Filing Separate Returns

If Taxable Income IsThe Tax Is
Not Over $8,35010% of the taxable income
Over $8,350 but not over $33,950$835 plus 15% of the excess over $8,350
Over $33,950 but not over $68,525$4,675 plus 25% of the excess over $33,950
Over $68,525 but not over $104,425$13,318.75 plus 28% of the excess over $68,525
Over $104,425 but not over $186,475$23,370.75 plus 33% of the excess over $104,425
Over $186,475$50,447.25 plus 35% of the excess over $186,475

Estates and Trusts

If Taxable Income Is The Tax Is
Not Over $2,300 15% of the taxable income
Over $2,300 but not over $5,350$345 plus 25% of the excess over $2,300
Over $5,350 but not over $8,200$1,107.50 plus 28% of the excess of $5,350
Over $8,200 but not over $11,150$1,905.50 plus 33% of the excess of $8,200
Over $11,150$2,879 plus 35% of the excess over $11,150

Additional Resources

The information provided is not written or intended as tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for purposes of avoiding any Federal tax penalties.  Individuals are encouraged to seek advice from their own tax or legal counsel. Individuals involved in the estate planning process should work with an estate planning team, including their own personal legal or tax counsel.


Insurance products issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), 1295 State Street, Springfield, MA 01111-0001 and CM Life Insurance Company and MML Bay State Life Insurance Company, 100 Bright Meadow Boulevard, Enfield, CT 06082.

Principal Underwriters: MML Distributors, LLC. (MMLD) and MML Investors Services, Inc., (MMLISI) Members FINRA (www.finra.org) and SiPC (www.sipc.org). MMLD and MMLISI are subsidiaries of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, 1295 State Street, Springfield, MA 01111-0001.

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